"We are in the 21st century and if you can't learn another language by now then something must be seriously wrong. I improved [my Spanish] on the recent England trip because I managed to have a lot of "half" conversations with McManaman." David James
"For me it is very important to be able to express myself in Spanish as soon as possible. I will make an effort because I need to settle in the team as fast as I can. This move to Real is also a move to a different country, so I will try and learn the language as soon as possible. Brooklyn can say hello and bye in Spanish. Most likely he will become a bilingual person sooner than me. This signing is a challenge both in my career and in my family life. Off the field, for my wife and kids, it is going to be a new life: new school, new customs… I want to get started with it as soon as possible." David Beckham "I know lots of people speak English, but being prepared to say something in someone else's language is a way of showing them that you care, that you're prepared to make the effort and you don't just expect them to speak your language. That's quite arrogant actually, isn't it ?" Diane Modahl, athlete
"Those who know nothing of foreign languages, know nothing of their own." Goethe "My wife and I learnt Spanish and Japanese when I played at Barcelona and Nagoya. We spent hours and hours in tuition - yet we could have learnt either language at school. Modern languages prepare you for modern life." "As the world gets smaller, there's never been a better opportunity to get into languages." "I've really enjoyed learning Spanish and Japanese. Getting to grips with a new language can be great fun, and you learn so much about other people and what makes them tick." "Immersing yourself in the culture is critical to making it work abroad." Gary Lineker "A different language is a different vision of life." Federico Fellini
"I wish I had learnt languages at school,because you never know where your career is going to take you." Mark Hughes, Welsh football manager
"We are in the 21st century and if you can't learn another language by now then something must be seriously wrong. I improved [my Spanish] on the recent England trip because I managed to have a lot of "half" conversations with McManaman."
David James
"For me it is very important to be able to express myself in Spanish as soon as possible. I will make an effort because I need to settle in the team as fast as I can. This move to Real is also a move to a different country, so I will try and learn the language as soon as possible. Brooklyn can say hello and bye in Spanish. Most likely he will become a bilingual person sooner than me. This signing is a challenge both in my career and in my family life. Off the field, for my wife and kids, it is going to be a new life: new school, new customs… I want to get started with it as soon as possible."
David Beckham
"I know lots of people speak English, but being prepared to say something in someone else's language is a way of showing them that you care, that you're prepared to make the effort and you don't just expect them to speak your language. That's quite arrogant actually, isn't it ?"
Diane Modahl, athlete
"Those who know nothing of foreign languages, know nothing of their own."
Goethe
"My wife and I learnt Spanish and Japanese when I played at Barcelona and Nagoya. We spent hours and hours in tuition - yet we could have learnt either language at school. Modern languages prepare you for modern life." "As the world gets smaller, there's never been a better opportunity to get into languages." "I've really enjoyed learning Spanish and Japanese. Getting to grips with a new language can be great fun, and you learn so much about other people and what makes them tick." "Immersing yourself in the culture is critical to making it work abroad."
Gary Lineker
"A different language is a different vision of life."
Federico Fellini
"I wish I had learnt languages at school,because you never know where your career is going to take you."
Mark Hughes, Welsh football manager